Paul George feels that the officiating crew cost the Indiana Pacers Game 4 against the Miami Heat. After his team’s 102-90 loss, George pointed out that the Heat shot twice as many free throws as the Pacers. He thought that had more to do with “home cooking” than LeBron James and company being more aggressive than Indiana.
“You can’t tell me we don’t attack the basket as much as they attack the basket,” George told reporters, via SI.com’s Point Forward. “You can’t tell me we’re not aggressive. Maybe we’re too aggressive. We’re just as aggressive as they are attacking the basket and making plays at the rim. Maybe this was just home cooking.”
The Heat attempted 34 free throws and made 30 of them, which was a season high. The Pacers were 11-of-17 from the line. Some would argue that a team that shoots 88% from the line deserves to win when its opponent knocks down just 65%, but George felt that the Pacers outplayed the Heat.
“Looking at the stat sheet we outplayed them,” he said. “You have to give them credit, they won this game at the free throw line. They really just were able to get to the line more than we were. I thought we outplayed them tonight.
“It’s just demoralizing when a game is lopsided. I’m sorry to say, but that was the case, again. How rare is it we shoot 50 percent, turn the ball over around 13 or so times, out-rebound a team and lose a ball game? … They made 30 free throws. That put them over the edge.”
Was it the amount of free throws the Heat attempted that put them over the edge, or the amount they converted? Probably a little bit of both. Pacers coach Frank Vogel said the exact opposite of George, telling reporters that Miami outplayed Indiana.
“We got outplayed by the Heat,” Vogel said. “They’re the best offensive team in the NBA. That’s the biggest reason [we’ve struggled defensively]. They’re got great weapons. They’re very difficult to guard.”
Vogel should know. He tried to yell at a Heat player who was shooting a 3-pointer, and even that didn’t work. The Pacers are not in a good spot heading into Game 5.
